The Dow's Schoolroom

Many parents that have chosen to home school their children are intimidated when it comes to math. I have always felt the opposite. I enjoy math. I find it fun to teach math.

Math is very systematic and predictable. Unlike many other subjects, math needs to be taught in a logical order. You wouldn't want to teach your child to multiply fractions if he hadn't learned to add yet. Most math curriculums follow a logical order. This order may vary somewhat from curriculum to curriculum.

For this reason, it is best to research the math you use very closely and find what will be best for your child and then stick with it. If you keep jumping around to different math curricula, your child will probably get confused. He will probably think that he is the problem instead of realizing that his math education has been chaotic.

Now, this doesn't mean that you should never change the math curriculum you are using. I'm just saying to be careful what you choose and then change only if it is really necessary. The ideal would be to stick with the same math curriculum.

I recommend what my family has done and has worked well. We use Miquon Math starting in the first grade. When we are through with it (by the end of the third grade), then we move to Saxon 54 or Saxon 65. So far, we have stuck with Saxon throughout the High School years.

Below you will find Miquon, Saxon and other math books and manipulatives. Click on a cover to find out more about each one.

Miquon Math Grades 1-3	Saxon Math Grades 4-12	Key to Curriculum	Cuisenaire Rods
Base Ten Blocks	Hundred Number Board and Book	Daily Math Problems	Daily Word Problems
Math Facts Cassettes and CDs	Grocery Cart Math	Double Nine Dominoes and Books	Pattern Blocks and Books
Trundle Wheel With Counter	The Math Chef	Three Bear Family Counters